Yokohama Considering Japanese Major Leaguers

by Patrick Newman (Sep 3, 2009)

The Yokohama BayStars have routinely had
the worst pitching staff in Japan the last few years, and word from
Sponichi has it that they'll be looking to re-import some help from the States
this off-season. Said an unnamed member of the 'Hama front office:
"we're two or three starters short, and getting a pitcher who can close
is a point to improve on. We're seeing if we can use any of the
Japanese pitchers who are playing in America." Ironically, this is the
team that wouldn't take Satoru Komiyama back after he returned from the Mets.

Sponichi mentions Tomo Ohka, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and Masahide Kobayashi
as guys the BayStars could look at. Ohka spent time with Yokohama early
in his career, but requested and was granted his release to pursue a
shot at the Majors. Two other names I'll throw out are Kei Igawa, who would have to take a pay cut to return to Japan, and Takashi Saito,
who is much more of a wildcard - he'd need to be non-tendered, and he's
also performed much better in the States than he did in Japan.